Otero hired as new Plant High athletic director

Leto High athletic director Lauren Otero has been hired at the same position at Plant High, replacing longtime AD Laura Figueredo who retired after the school year.

“An experience athletic director at Plant is what we needed,” said Plant High principal Robert Nelson Friday.

Figueredo taught at Plant High for 28 years, nearly half as the school’s athletic director. Plant High’s athletic program has been one of the most successful in Florida over the past decade, with its football, volleyball, tennis and cross country programs winning multiple state titles.

Nelson said he was impressed with Otero’s “skill set and experience”. He also said Otero has served on a FHSAA committee, is knowledgeable of state rules, and will help to “keep the high standard of what we expect in academics and athletics at Plant.”

Nelson said Otero’s position at Plant is effective at the beginning of July.

“I was very honored to be selected to follow in the foot stops of Laura,” said Otero, who served as Leto’s AD the past five years. Prior to Leto, Otero was the assistant principal for administration student affairs at Gaither.

Her father, Ken Otero, was a teacher, football coach and AD at Plant nearly 25 years ago.

“That was personally gratifying to go into a role he excelled at,” she said. “To share the same office is a little humbling.”